MME Designs's Weblog

A Town Mouse went on a visit to his cousin in the country. Country Mouse loved his town friend and offered him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all that Country Mouse had to offer, but he offered them freely. Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: “I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this.” He continued, “but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country.”

Country Mouse design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.

Country Mouse scurried about beneath some nearby ferns trying to find some more elegant provisions. Then his urban cousin suggested, “Come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life for so long.”

No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse’s residence late in the evening. The polite Town Mouse offered, “You will want some refreshment after our long journey.”

He led his rough and ready cousin into the grand dining room where they found the remains of a fine feast. Soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice.

Suddenly they heard growling and barking.

Country Mouse asked, “Ieck!!! What is that?”

“It is only the dogs of the house,” his companion responded.

“Only!” squeaked the Country Mouse. “I do not like that kind of music at my dinner.”

Just at that moment the door flew open. In ran two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down from the table and run off.

“Good-bye, Cousin,” said the Country Mouse.

“What! Going so soon?” said the other.

“Yes,” Country Mouse replied: “BETTER BEANS AND BACON IN PEACE THAN CAKES AND ALE IN FEAR.”

Happy Thanksgiving!